Adjustment locking means for loom shuttle tensions



Jan. 3, 1939. .1. A MURPHY 2,142,524

ADJUSTMENT LOCKING MEANS FOR LOOM SHUTTLE TENSIONS Filed MaFGh 8, 19.382 Sheets-Shag?, l

2J IIA/15s A. URP/YY INVENTOR ATTORNEY Jan. 3,'.1939- J. A. MURPHY I2,142,524

ADJUSTMENT LOCKING MEANS FOR LOOM SHUTTLE TENSIONS Filed March a,- 19382 Sheets-Sheet 2 JAMES A. MURPHY NVE/vzw? ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 3, 1939UNITE@ .STATES ENT OFFiCE ADJUSTMENT LOCKNG MEAN S FOR LOOM SHUTTLETENSINS Application March 8, 1938, Serial No. 194,529

4 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved adjustment locking means for loomshuttle tensions, which is more particularly adapted for use inconnection with loom shuttles having thread tensioning plates locatedopposed relation each other and provided with adjustable tensioningmeans for applying diierent degrees of tension to a thread passedbetween the thread tensioning plates.

One object of the invention is the provision in a loom shuttle of meansfor locking the tension regulating means in such a manner as to insure asubstantially constant tension on the thread as it passes through thethread block trom the bobbin.

Another object oi the invention is the provision of removable andreplaceable locking means adapted for use in locking one or more oi thetension adjusting members of a loom shuttle against movement after thesame have been set to obtain the desired tension on the thread, in orderthat the tension applied to the thread may remain constant for theparticular fabric being made and until such time as it becomes nece y toreadjust the tension for dierent conc..J .ns ci" use.

Other objects and advantages of the invention relate to various improveddetails or" construction and novel arrangements of the parts as will bemore fully set forth in the detailed description to follow.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. l is a side elevational View of a portion of the thread deliveryend loom shuttle, showing the position of a locking member as applied toa tension adjusting membe- Fig. 2 is a top plan View ci the `Ll'ireaddelivery end of the loom shuttle, partially in section, the sectionbeing taken substantially along the line 2--2 of Fig. l, and showing thethread block, thread tensioning members and associated elements with thelocking member in operative position relative to the adjusting member,

Fig. 3 is a rear elevational view of a thread block, showing the threadtensioning members and illustrating a somewhat modified form ofadjusting member locking means,

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section View taken substantially along the linei-fl of Fig. 5, and showing the position oi the locking members or keyswith respect to the tensioning adjusting members,

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view ci the thread block and adjustingmember locking means shown in Fig. 3,

Fig. 6 is a side elevational View of a thread block showing anothermodied form of adjusting member locking means and illustrating theposition of the same in connection with the adjusting member.

Fig. 7 is a Vertical sectional view through the thread blc-ck shown inFig. 6, taken substantially along the line li-l of Fig. 6 and showingthe position o1 the locking member and its relation to the parts whenthe adjusting members are in locked position,

Fig. 8 is a side elevational view of the locking member shown in Figs. land 2,

9 is a side elevational view of the locking member as shown in Figs. 3,4 and 5, and,

Fig. l0 is a perspective View of the locking member shown in Figs. 6 and'7.

In the use or" thread tensioning means for loom shuttles involvingopposed thread tensioning members located upon opposite sides of thethread as it passes from the bobbin through the thread block it isnecessary to provide resilient means of some character acting upon oneor both of the oppositely positioned thread tensioning members to urgethem resiliently towards each other and into Contact with opposite sidesofthe thread. It is desirable that such resilient means be capable ofadjustment to permit changing of the pressure applied to the threadtensioning members with dierence in the size and character of the threademployed and other conditions or use, while at the same time it isdesirable that such pressure be maintained substantially constant overconsiderable periods, as when the loom shuttle is being used with onetype and size of thread and for making the same character of material.One or more adjusting members or screws may be employed for the purposeand positioned to act upon the resilient means used to increase ordecrease the applied tension as the character of the thread or the typeof material being made renders necessary or desirable. In the use ofsuch devices, however, there is a tendency for the adjusting means tochange position during continued operation of the shuttle and thuseffect a variation in the applied tension. in order to overcome thistendency the present invention is directed to the provision of means forlocking the adjusting means in such a manner as to hold the same.securely in place While at the same time permit movement of theadjusting means by the operative in order to change the tension whennecessary to meet changed conditions of operation.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated herein, l designates aloom shuttle having a bobbin receiving opening 2, and provided with athread block 3 suitably positioned for receiving the thread from thebobbin. In the present construction the thread block 3 is provided witha thread passage 4 extending substantially longitudinally thereof, andthread tensioning plate members 5 are located in opposed relation witheach other within the thread passage 4 and may be supported by a bar 6extending transversely of the thread passage. Each thread tensioningmember 5 may be provided with an outwardly extending lug 'I mounted in asuitable opening 8 formed in the thread block to maintain the same inthe desired upright position while permitting movement of the platemembers towards and from each other. A bolt 9 may extend transversely ofthe shuttle body and pass through the thread block 3 to retain thethread block securely in place within the shuttle body.

An adjusting member or screw I2 may be threaded in the thread block orshuttle body in laterally opposed thread tensioning plate members 5 andmay be provided with a recessed end portion adapted to receive a coiledspring I4, which is supported by the adjusting screw in position toengage the outer face of one of the thread tensioning members 5 and urgethe same resiliently towards the opposed thread tensioning member.

One of the thread tensioning members 5 may be mounted in relativelyfixed position, in which case the opposite tensioning, member only isspring pressed to urge it into engaging position with the rst namedthread tensioning member. In this case only one adjusting member may beemployed and consequently only a single locking member. As shown herein,however, each thread tensioning member 5 is mounted for movement towardsand from the other and each is adapted to be actuated by a resilienttensioning member controlled by an adjusting member. In such case it isdesirable to employ a locking member for each adjusting member.

The adjusting member or members I2 may be threaded in the thread blockor in a portion of the shuttle body for movement to adjust the degree ofpressure applied to the thread tensioning member or members 5 by thespring I4, and each adjusting member I2 is provided with a slot orchannel I5 formed in the outer end thereof by which it may be turned tosecure the desired degrec of adjustment or to bring the channel I5 intoalignment with a recess or channel in the thread block or shuttle body,which channel may then receive a key or locking member to lock theadjusting member against accidental movement and thereby prevent ch-angein the tension applied by its controlled tension member.

In that form of the invention illustrated in Figs. l and 2 of thedrawings, the adjusting members or screws are of suchlength as toproject outwardly from the thread block sufliciently to bring the outerend portions thereof within the shuttle body. A groove I8 is cut in theouter face of the shuttle body and in position to extend transversely ofand in proximity to the outer end portion of an adjusting member I2. Apin I@ is secured in the shuttle body to extend transversely of andspaced slightly from the bottom of the groove I8.

When the parts are located in assembled relation within the thread blockthe adjusting member 2 may be turned to give the tension desired to thetension spring I4, and then turned slightly, if necessary, to bring thechannel I5 formed in the end thereof into alignment with relation withone of saidthe groove I8. A resilient key 20, having an angular endportion 2I, is then inserted within the groove I8 and beneath the pin I9and forced forwardly to lie within the channel I5 of the adjustingmember I2 and hold the same against rotation. When fully inserted withinthe slot IB, the offset end 2I of the locking key 20 is in position toenter a recess formed in the base of the slot I 8 and thus hold the key20 iirmly against accidental removal.

In that form of the invention shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5 of the drawingsthe general features of construction of the thread block, threadtensioning members and adjusting means therefor are similar in allrespects to those previously de scribed, except that in this form of theinvention a locking key or keys 22 are carried by the thread blockinstead of by the shuttle body, and the locking key itself is ofamodified form. The adjusting members I 2 each has a similar channel I5formed in its outer end, and an opening 24 is formed in the end of thethread block in regn istry with a recess 25 formed therein for theinsertion or removal of a locking key 22 which is forced forwardlythrough the opening 24 in the end of the thread block and through thechannel I5 in the end of the adjusting member I2 to bring its forwardend portion in to a recess 25 formed in the thread block 3 whereby thelocking member 22 is engaged at opposite ends thereof to press itagainst the adjusting member I2. A detent lug 23 may be formed in thelocking key 22, adjacent to one end, which may engage a portion of thethread block when the locking key is in position therein and prevent itsac cidental displacement or removal from the thread block. In that formof the invention shown in Figs. 6 and '7 of the drawings theconstruction of the thread block, thread tensioning members andadjusting means therefor are similar to these previously described, andthe adjusting members I2 are similarly threaded within the thread blockto exert the desired degree of pressure upon the coil springs I4. Inthis form of the invention, however, the locking member or key isgenerally rectangular in outline when in position within the threadblock as indicated at 26 and comprises a base 21 and arms 28 spaced fromeach other and extending in the same lateral direction from the base tot within a continuous groove 29 formed in the base and sides of thethread block 3, and so positioned as to intersect the outer ends of theadjusting members I2 and lie within the channels I5 formed therein tohold the adjusting members against movement when set in the desiredposition for tensioning the springs I4 and when the adjusting membersare turned to position the channels vertically with respect to the baseof the thread block. The locking member or key 26 may be readily removedfrom the thread block 3 whenever it is desired to change the posi tionof the adjusting members to vary the tension applied to the threadtensioning members 5.

In each form of the invention shown one or both of the thread tensioningmembers 5 may be engaged by a tensioning spring I4 carried by orcontrolled from an adjusting member I2, and the tension applied to thethread as it passes through the thread passages may be regulated orcontrolled by turning the adjusting member to increase or decrease thepressure exerted by the spring I4. When the pressure exerted upon thethread tensioning member or members by the spring I4 is properlyadjusted, the adjusting member I2 may be turned slightly to bring thechannel I5 thereof into alignment With a groove or recess formed in theshuttle body or thread block and a locking key is inserted to lie Withinthe groove or recess and the channel of the adjusting member and retainthe adjusting member against rotation, whereby the pressure exerted bythe spring or springs I4 remains constant. Each form of locking key isretained in its locking position during use of the shuttle, either bymeans engaging a portion of the shuttle body or thread block or by thelocation of the thread block in the shuttle body, and is removablereadily to permit the position of the adjusting member to` be changedfor changing the tension applied to the thread when necessary ordesirable.

What I claim is:

1. In an adjustment locking means for loom shuttle tensions, thecombination with a loom shuttle thread block provided with a threadpassage and thread tensioning members located in opposed relation withinthe thread passage, means for applying tension to one of said threadtensioning members, an adjusting screw threaded in said thread block foradjusting said tension means and provided with a transverse channelformed in the outer end thereof, of a locking key slidably mounted inthe thread block for movement longitudinally of the channel in theadjusting screw, and means for retaining said locking key inlongitudinally adjusted position for engagement with the channeled endof said adjusting screw.

2. In a loom shuttle structure, a thread block provided with a threadpassage and having thread tensioning members located in opposed relationwith each other transversely of the thread passage, resilient meansengaging one of said thread tensioning members, an adjusting memberthreaded in said thread block having a transverse recess and movable toadjust said resilient means, and an elongated locking member slidablymounted in said thread block and longitudinally slidable in a directiontransversely of the axis of said adjusting member to engage the recessin said adjusting member and hold the same in adjusted position.

3. In a loom shuttle structure, a thread block having a thread passageformed therein, a thread tensioning member located within the threadpassage, tension means engageable with said thread tensioning member, anadjusting member threaded in said thread block and engaging said tensionmeans for regulating said tension means, said adjusting member having atransversely extending recess formed therein and communicating with arecess in the thread block extending transversely of the axis of saidadjusting member in any one of several positions of said adjustingmember, and an elongated locking member longitudinally slidable Withinthe recesses in the thread block and adjusting member in a directiontransversely of said adjusting member when the recess of the adjustingmember is in communication with the recess in the thread block to lockthe adjusting member against movement in the thread block.

4. In a loom shuttle structure, thread tensioning members positioned forengagement With opposite sides of a thread, spring means for exertingpressure upon said thread tensioning members, a threaded adjustingmember axially rotatable for controlling said spring means and providedwith a transversely extending opening, a locking member carried by saidshuttle and slidable longitudinally of its extent and transversely ofthe axis of said adjusting member toenter the transversely extendingopening in said adjusting member and lock the same against rotation.

JAMES A. MURPHY.

